Metamorphosis - Cruise Ship Portal

Company insight > Ports & destinations
A new day for Dubai
The recent opening of the Dubai Cruise Terminal and the naming of the Costa Deliziosa mark
Dubai’s growing status as a leading cruise destination and port of call in the Middle East.
On 23 February the Costa Deliziosa
was named in Dubai in an event
organised by the Dubai Department
of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM)
and Costa Crociere. The naming ceremony
took place during the ship’s grand inaugural
cruise, having departed from Savona, Italy, on
5 February.
The Costa Deliziosa, the 15th ship in
Costa’s fleet, was the first ever cruise ship to
be named in an Arabian city. The ceremony
further strengthened the ties between Costa
Cruises and the DTCM. Over 3,000 guests
attended the event, including about 2,000
Costa guests cruising on the first leg of the
grand inaugural cruise.
“The naming ceremony of our fifteenth
ship, the Costa Deliziosa, in Dubai confirms
again our pioneering spirit in setting a new
record and strengthens the partnership
between Costa Cruises and the Dubai Emirate,” says Fabrizia
Greppi, Costa Cruises vice-president for corporate marketing
and communications.
“
This year, the new Dubai Cruise
Terminal will host 120 ships with
over 325,000 passengers.
“Our Italian company was the first and it’s still the major
operator to believe in the value of this new cruise destination,
confirming the pioneering spirit of Costa Cruises. Thanks to
our four-year-partnership with the DTCM, we are boosting our
presence in the Arabian Gulf by bringing ships to Dubai, such
as the Costa Deliziosa and Costa Luminosa. In winter 2009-10
we expect a 40% increase of our guest cruising to Dubai, with
an estimated economic impact of €14 million for the city.”
Hamad bin Mejren, DTCM executive director business tourism,
says: “Dubai is steaming ahead and we look forward to a period of
tremendous growth in cruise tourism. Cruise tourists are becoming
an increasingly important part of Dubai’s tourism industry. Costa
Cruises made Dubai its regional cruise hub in 2006, giving the
growing cruise industry a major boost. Costa’s decision reconfirms
the potential of Dubai as the regional cruise industry hub.
“We are delighted with their decision and assure of our
whole hearted cooperation and support to make the initiative
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successful. We are confident that this will help expand the
cruise tourism industry in the region and stimulate other cruise
operators to use the emirate as a cruise hub.”
Opening up
In 2009, Dubai played host to 100 cruise ships that brought
260,000 cruise tourists. This year, the new Dubai Cruise
Terminal will host 120 ships with over 325,000 passengers.
Next year, the terminal is expected to receive 135 ships with
375,000 passengers, followed by 150 ships with 425,000
passengers in 2012, 165 ships with 475,000 passengers in 2013,
180 ships with 525,000 passengers in 2014, and 195 ships with
575,000 passengers in 2015.
The 3,450m 2 terminal has the capacity to handle four ships
simultaneously and offers facilities such as a money exchange,
cash machine, post office, duty free shop, souvenir shops, a
business centre and VIP Majlis.
In winter 2009-10, Costa’s ships are expected to bring
140,000 passenger movements to Dubai thanks to the presence
of three ships for a total of 32 calls.
Costa Cruises is Italy’s largest tourism group and Europe’s
leading cruise company. For more than 60 years its ships have
sailed the seas, offering Italian style, hospitality and cuisine. �
The Department of Tourism and
Commerce Marketing
The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing was
established to promote Dubai as a tourist destination.
www.dubaitourism.ae